Price Gouging
10-19-23, 03:22 PM
#1
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Price Gouging
I need a dust cap for my Nuovo Record pedal.
How does $41 sound, for ONE plastic cap?
How does $41 sound, for ONE plastic cap?
10-19-23, 03:33 PM
#2
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You must have found it at Ebay seller pb*bikes. They are notorious.
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10-19-23, 03:42 PM
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I’m in Portland. Nobody seems to know who this guy is. And I’ve asked if I can just save a little money and postage by meeting at the pub of their choice, no avail.
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10-19-23, 03:55 PM
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There are reasonable repros out of Italy.
somafabshop periodically carries plain ones.
aluminum though.
there are MKS branded ones that fit also.
if ya gots to have original. Then the rate may well be the rate. I would reference completed transaction prices.
there are lots of wild asks out there for all levels of stuff.
just referenced Binda Extra straps, $83-140. Not cheap but not making any more of them.
somafabshop periodically carries plain ones.
aluminum though.
there are MKS branded ones that fit also.
if ya gots to have original. Then the rate may well be the rate. I would reference completed transaction prices.
there are lots of wild asks out there for all levels of stuff.
just referenced Binda Extra straps, $83-140. Not cheap but not making any more of them.
Last edited by repechage; 10-19-23 at 04:16 PM.
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10-19-23, 04:32 PM
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@Bad Lag,
So you should likely contact me about some of my stash of vintage parts. If you want to spend north of $40 I can likely get you a chromed original. Or a plastic model, and maybe a Miche which is the same part only solid black plastic. I have them in house. Smiles, MH
So you should likely contact me about some of my stash of vintage parts. If you want to spend north of $40 I can likely get you a chromed original. Or a plastic model, and maybe a Miche which is the same part only solid black plastic. I have them in house. Smiles, MH
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10-19-23, 04:59 PM
#7
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On the same platform, spend twice your one cap and get the whole megillah.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/386211642079
https://www.ebay.com/itm/386211642079
10-19-23, 05:12 PM
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Just recalled, Jim Merz made some astonishing machined and polished aluminum versions, correct shape- but lacking the typography- they were near the wild asking but very nice and not plastic
10-19-23, 05:35 PM
#9
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Surely these dust covers are good candidates for 3-d printing, or some other cheap reproduction method, even in grey plastic. After all, the purpose is to keep the grease in and dirt/water out.
Does anyone know of cheap options like that?
Edit: never mind, lots of cheaper options on that awful auction site.
Does anyone know of cheap options like that?
Edit: never mind, lots of cheaper options on that awful auction site.
Last edited by panzerwagon; 10-19-23 at 08:31 PM.
10-19-23, 08:23 PM
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He will wait out the Apocalypse, happily.
He's been around forever and planned this a long time ago.
I found another Portland seller that won't let me pick up today so I get to pay $10.50 to ship across town, and so it goes.
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10-19-23, 08:36 PM
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This is my primary complaint about Campy parts on eBay. Any single small part comes with an asking price very near cost of the complete component. The convenience of finding what you need does not justify the cost in these cases. I'll keep looking.
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10-19-23, 08:46 PM
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Re: pb*bikes
I've bought a few things from pb*bikes. They're certainly not effusive, but when you need a rare NOS, absolutely pristine part, they are a reliable source.
Shipping has always been prompt, and the part carefully packaged. Always at least as nice as advertised.
When only a handful of the item that you need exists on the planet, you pay what the piper asks...
Still and all, I would love to know who they are, and their back-story. Would be an interesting read.
Shipping has always been prompt, and the part carefully packaged. Always at least as nice as advertised.
When only a handful of the item that you need exists on the planet, you pay what the piper asks...
Still and all, I would love to know who they are, and their back-story. Would be an interesting read.
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10-19-23, 09:06 PM
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10-19-23, 09:33 PM
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I'm thinking of making some replacements using the caps of champagne bottles or beer bottle caps epoxy-bonded to an inexpensive dust cap.
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10-19-23, 09:44 PM
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I have made bar end caps from bottle caps and coins before (old French Francs that had the hole in the middle for my trés belle randonneuse)
10-20-23, 07:09 AM
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This is what happens when a hobby becomes commodified. I buy, sell, and trade with folks who put cycling/people before the almighty dollar and am rarely disappointed.
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10-20-23, 07:17 AM
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10-20-23, 07:29 AM
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I've had good luck with Soma Fab Shop products. I have several of their metal tail lights, which have served me pretty well.
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10-20-23, 08:47 AM
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https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/802...=spanner#attr=
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10-20-23, 09:02 AM
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If the branding is important to you, sometimes you have to pay to play. Looks like there are several other decent options. Looks like a lot of repros also include the bike manufacturer logo for a lot of different makers.
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10-20-23, 09:21 AM
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If you want 3-D printing of any light weight part, you might want to check your local trade school or high school. They are away looking for new protects. (cheap too.)
Last edited by Colorado Kid; 10-20-23 at 09:22 AM. Reason: spelling
10-20-23, 09:59 AM
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High prices yes, I don't know if I would call it gouging though. You or we, can say no to pricing or just no deal.
What we we do is addictive, or can be. Sometimes it's just better to stay of the hard stuff, or save it for the most special of times and use within a responsible manner, or build a Huffente.
What we we do is addictive, or can be. Sometimes it's just better to stay of the hard stuff, or save it for the most special of times and use within a responsible manner, or build a Huffente.
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10-20-23, 10:39 AM
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Seller is stellar. His name is Barry Scott. Understands the freedom with capitalism. Take it or leave it.
BTW: I'm not from Portland but always had excellent transactions 'and' cordial negotiating with him.
Last edited by BillyD; 10-23-23 at 03:59 PM. Reason: Insults?
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10-20-23, 10:42 AM
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Both Van (Merziac) and I bought some aluminum repros out of east Europe (Poland? Croatia? I forget) for $7 a pair.
The two pair I got, one pair fit perfect, the other needed a lil Dremel work to fit tight and not rub the shaft. I think that was more of a campy QC than the cap.
Van's other trick is the MKS and sand the logo off. Not a perfect profile but are you entering this bike at Auburn or just want to keep grit/rain out of your bearings?
Robert
The two pair I got, one pair fit perfect, the other needed a lil Dremel work to fit tight and not rub the shaft. I think that was more of a campy QC than the cap.
Van's other trick is the MKS and sand the logo off. Not a perfect profile but are you entering this bike at Auburn or just want to keep grit/rain out of your bearings?
Robert
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10-20-23, 10:48 AM
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Why should he go out of his way to meet you or any one else?
Seller is stellar. His name is Barry Scott. Understands the freedom with capitalism. Take it or leave it.
BTW: I'm not from Portland but always had excellent transactions 'and' cordial negotiating with him.
Seller is stellar. His name is Barry Scott. Understands the freedom with capitalism. Take it or leave it.
BTW: I'm not from Portland but always had excellent transactions 'and' cordial negotiating with him.
That's funny.
My transaction involves a Silca Pump that was top $$ and claimed to match Molteni orange perfectly.
Hahaha, I know. Which one….right?
So, it came in the mail. Guess what.
This could have been avoided. Plus I was putting together a rather large order that would have saved him the ebay fees or at least the hassle of packaging/shipping.
Hopefully todays soup line will have butternut squash with fried sage leaves.
Yum.
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"Leave the gun. Take the Colnagos."
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Last edited by BillyD; 10-23-23 at 04:00 PM.